---
name: "i3blocks"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "i3blocks"
version: "1.5-4"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/i3blocks"
---

# i3blocks(1)

A feed generator for text based status bars

## NAME

i3blocks - A feed generator for text based status bars

## SYNOPSIS

**i3blocks** \[*OPTION*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

The [i3blocks(1)](/i3blocks/1.md) command generates a status line for [i3bar(1)](/i3bar/1.md). It schedules command lines described in a simple configuration file at specified time intervals, upon signal reception or on clicks.

## OPTIONS

- **-h**

  Show the help message and exit.

- **-c** *CONFIGFILE*

  Specifies an alternate configuration file path.

- **-v**

  Increase log level. This option is a cumulative. By default only fatal errors are shown in the status bar. Passing this option once will show error messages as well. Using **-vv** and more will show more debug output on standard error.

## CONFIGURATION

i3blocks must be defined as the status line command of the **bar** block described in your [i3(1)](/i3/1.md) configuration file:

```
bar {
  status_command i3blocks
}
```

By default, i3blocks looks for a configuration file in the following order (note that /etc may be prefixed with /usr/local depending on the compilation flags):

 1\. *$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/i3blocks/config* (or *~/.config/i3blocks/config*)

 2\. *~/.i3blocks.conf*

 3\. *$XDG\_CONFIG\_DIRS/i3blocks/config* (or */etc/xdg/i3blocks/config*)

 4\. */etc/i3blocks.conf*

For the content of the configuration file, please refer to the i3blocks website:  \<https://vivien.github.io/i3blocks\>

## SEE ALSO

[i3(1)](/i3/1.md), [i3bar(1)](/i3bar/1.md), [i3status(1)](/i3status/1.md)

## AUTHORS

i3blocks is written by Vivien Didelot and other contributors.

## RESOURCES

**Project web site:**  \<https://vivien.github.io/i3blocks\>

**Git source repository and issue tracker:**  \<https://github.com/vivien/i3blocks\>

**Official collection of scripts for i3blocks:**  \<https://github.com/vivien/i3blocks-contrib\>

**i3bar protocol:**  \<http://i3wm.org/docs/i3bar-protocol.html\>

## COPYING

Copyright © Vivien Didelot. Free use of this software is granted under the terms of the *GPLv3+* License.